Institute ​​for Sports Medicine

Our sports medicine specialists have ​advanced training in pediatrics and sports medicine so that they can give age-appropriate care to active, growing children and teenagers who become injured. Their services are available at our main hospital and outpatient sites throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Exp​erience

Our entire staff is dedicated to evaluating and treating children, teens and young adults. Our doctors are leaders in the field of pediatric sports medicine. They regularly contribute their exper​tise to local, state and national athletic and medical organizations to set guidelines for best treatment practices and safety in sports. Our doctors also work with various Chicago public and private high schools and colleges, the Chicago Park District and community-based sports organizations.

If your child needs medical equipment, such as a brace, splint or custom shoe insert, we have experts who can fit and supply these devices in the Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics. We also work closely with Lurie Children’s psychologists and neuropsychologists to treat children with head injuries.

An expert in pediatric sports medicine, Cynthia LaBella, MD, is the institute’s medical director. She is board certified in pediatrics and sports medicine and has more than 10 years of experience in sports medicine.

Approach

Our commitment to family-centered care means that we treat not only the injury but also address the well-being of the entire family. Each patient is different, so our care addresses your family’s unique wishes and goals. We take your child’s individual needs into account, focusing on sports-specific and age-appropriate treatment, education and rehab exercises to return your child to activity safely. Our team also carefully evaluates each patient’s unique set of injury risk factors and uses this information to provide individualized injury prevention advice.

Our care is evidence-based, meaning it follows the best scientific guidelines and research. Some of these studies come from our own Institute for Sports Medicine, which is active in research to improve sports injury prevention and treatment.

Philanthropy

Grants from organizations, such as the Chicago Fire Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer team, and Kohl’s Cares​, have helped us start and maintain sports injury prevention programs.

Your support is important in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please contact the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org, call 312.227.7500 or make a gift today.

Register for KIPP for Coaches

KIPP for Coaches is a free, online training program to help coaches reduce the risk of ACL tears and other lower extremity injuries in female athletes. Coaches learn how to lead their athletes through a 15-minute knee injury prevention warm-up routine.